The spoils were shared and the deadlock left unbroken when Heath Hayes met Coleshill Town on Saturday, as a dour game was played out on a very reasonable March afternoon. The weather was better than the football though, and despite Coleshill Town striker Chris Gumery being forced to pull on the goalkeeper's gloves, neither side could find a way through.
Perhaps the best chance to open the scoring came inside the first 5 minutes, when Chris Gumery somehow contrived to head the ball wide from point blank distance after Richie Allen had played a decent ball into the box. It was panic stations for Coleshill not too long afterwards though when young 'keeper Ian Kimberley dislocated a finger when defending a corner. With no other goalkeeper on the bench, Chris Gumery was given the yellow jersey. It seemed rather puzzling how Heath Hayes didn't see this as an opportunity to shoot on sight, and only really tested the makeshift custodian once in the first half. When Alan Haycock sprung the offside trap, he seemed to have outfoxed Gumery as he took the ball past him, but Coleshill skipper Jason Lanns saved his team with a last ditch challenge.
Before that though, the visitors tried their luck from range with a few half chances, substitute Chris Laight coming the closest with a curled shot that tested Adam Jenkins in the Heath Hayes goal. Jon Powis' free kick was only inches wide of the near post, and Tom Wilmore wasn't too far away with a floating effort when off balance.
The entertainment of the game was marred by poor passing displays by both teams though, a feature that continued to rear its head in the second half. As the visitors struggled to find their cutting edge, Michael William did well to cut inside from the right wing and drive a low deflected effort, though Jenkins was able to gather. The goalkeeper was rooted to his spot when Tom Wilmore almost scored in bizarre fashion late in the game though, the midfielder swinging in a corner delivery which would have curled directly into the net, but for a headed clearance on the line.
The result would be shaped by two one on one opportunities in the final ten minutes though, as each team failed to convert chances to steal what would have turned out to be the winner. Gumery saved with his shins when a Heath Hayes striker was bearing down on goal, making the vital block to the relief of his team mates. Town built upon this, and when Laight sent Richie Allen hurtling through on goal, Jenkins came rushing out of his area to deny the midfielder, a brave stop which resulted in the game remaining goalless.